–not your momma's goulash–

girls

Today it was downright chilly (by August standards). It drizzled all day, we had the windows in the house wide open, and it was just a nice break from the usual. The kids were amazing and played together so nicely for few hours in the afternoon, leaving me some time to sew.

They played babies and babysitter, camped in a fort on the couch and ate lunch, and my personal favorite, Guacamole! Guacamole is the best. They simply take every chair in the house and put them in the living room to make a restaurant. Then, they take every single bowl we own and every kitchen tool, and “make” guacamole for each other, tableside. Ole!

I drew the pattern between the 7 and 8 lines. It’s a pretty perfect fit. (She had her bathing suit on underneath, so that’s what you see through the bodice.)

The bodice fabric is this great Art Gallery knit by Leah Duncan (city lights in day from her Gramercy line. I purchased mine from the Imagine Gnats shop and literally got the last 1/8 yard during one Rachael’s great sales). The skirt is a lightweight Kaufman chambray. This time, we went the capped sleeve route, and added pockets too. Girl loves some pockets. A long strip of coral knit creates a faux tie at the front- it’s a nice touch.

I really recommend this pattern if you’ve got a school-aged girl (it goes up to a size 8). It is the perfect school dress, so comfy and cute. Ellery wore her last two (blogged here) at least once a week.

I love the shape of a drop-waisted dress, and now that I’ve made one, I think I’m smitten.

It’s just so cool, swingy, and casual.

I used this darling-as-ever Princess in the Pea print by Heather Ross. I don’t sew a whole lot with the cutesier prints out there, but there’s something I just love about this one- Heather’s style is so unique. The colors pop against the cream background, and I just love that little princess and her red cheeks atop those beds.

So, the Charlie dress is a sweet pattern, but I didn’t totally follow the instructions here. Mostly, because the armholes, neckline and back slit, are finished with bias tape. I realized that the fact that bias tape was involved was probably what was keeping me from being motivated to sew this one (I’d had my pattern cut out and sitting on my desk for a month but inside would hem and haw about using the bias tape for some reason. I guess I hate sewing with it?). So, I decided to sort of “mash-up” this pattern with Dana’s First Day Dress pattern. I love the look of a fully lined dress, so I basically followed Dana’s instructions so I could do that here. I really love Dana’s pattern, by the way- it’s become a steadfast favorite, and I’ve got a few more versions coming down the pipe soon.

Of course, I used Rae’s sausage step to line my bodice because you now it’s all the rage now. (<—that’s for you, Rachel! hee hee.) Heidi has a good tutorial as well that shows how to do this as well. You should try it sometime if you haven’t.

I think the weight of a lined dress is so nice- it’s not heavy at all, but it just hangs so nicely (better in person). I’m just really happy that I went that route. Not to mention, the mint lining peeking out is pretty sweet. These are the things I live for, people. Add Americanos and raw cookie dough to that list too.

The Charlie closes with a simple button and loop, but of course I forgot to slip my elastic loop in before sewing, so I just made a buttonhole. It works.

Her face in this next shot kills me. It’s so her. She makes the best faces.

So I’m all, “Coco, guess what?”

Coco: “what?”

“That dress is going in my etsy shop. So… that means you don’t get to keep it. Okay?”

I’m so happy that Suz invited me along on the Sunday Picnic dress blog tour– she is one of the sweetest gals I’ve never met, and I’m such a fan of everything she does!

I fell in love with her Little Debbie dress pattern long ago (both of the ones I made were heavy rotators in my girls’ wardrobes), it’s a great pattern so I knew her newest baby would likely be as well.

The Sunday Picnic Dress is a clean design, with clever details like the crossover neckline and the curved pockets, and an optional pointed collar.

I chose the most basic options here- sleeveless and collar-less. I wanted to make something for Corinne that could be layered over a tee for extra comfort and warmth now that it’s getting chilly.

I followed Suz’s chart to determine which size to make 2 1/2 year old Coco- she’s long and lean. A size 2 was the perfect choice. Fits like a glove.

I was originally going to sew it to the bottom of the dress, but decided it’d sort of break it up a bit if I put it at the bodice/skirt seam.

Coco would like to take this party outside. Cool?

Our new neighbors just put up a big wooden fence. Soon, they’re bringing their horses in and a couple of cows, including a new calf! I love animals and have already asked if it’s okay that we visit them with carrots and apples. Maybe I can bribe them to be in my next blog photoshoot?

My only problem with sewing this dress was the zipper. I failed to read in detail about which type of zipper to buy, so I just grabbed a couple at the store. Not the invisible kind. Whoops. So unfortunately, I was unable to follow Suz’s (clear and detailed from what I could tell) invisible zip instructions. Instead, I made my way through a few random regular zipper installation tutorials online. It’s functional, but not perfect-looking on the inside.

(fact: this is a my first zipper EVER. so, I shan’t be too hard on meeself.)

Those pockets… my fave! Hers too.

I hope you’ll check out this adorable pattern. Like the other Sewpony Vintage patterns, each step contains a photo which is why I love most PDF patterns. Good for people like me who do better with a visual.

Thank you, Suz for sending it my way!

For the duration of the tour, you can buy the Sunday Picnic Dress pattern at a discounted price in the Sewpony Vintage shop– use code SUNDAYTOUR15 for 15% off.

You can also visit the other lovely dresses on the tour today by clicking on their links below. They’re all so great!

Avery turned 5 a couple weeks ago! She is such a dynamic girl. There are many dimensions to my girl Avery: smart, determined, tenacious, dramatic, hilarious, honest, sweet, loving, mysterious and wild (good luck future boyfriends). This face kind of says it all…

She recently started watching the runway portion of Project Runway with me. I know she has craftiness in her future, its in her DNA, so I thought I’d jumpstart her interest in sewing by letting her watch the show. She really likes it. She asks me, “Mom, which girl do you want to win?” I explained that those girls are just wearing the clothes that the people made, they are not the ones who will win. “Oh…I want to be one of those girls,” she says. “A girl who wears the clothes and walks in them,” I ask? “YES,” declares Avery! Great. I just helped my daughter aspire to be a walking mannequin. Fabulous. She will have to work at that modelling career, because this was about the least awkward pose she was offered me during our shoot.

We headed to the playground to try for some candids.

She was dying to show me how she learned to use the monkey bars!

That’s my girl! She is really athletic, and she loves to wear DRESSES! I knew that the skater dress would be an instant hit in the comfort department. I sewed a size 5Y/6Y and I am so glad that it is roomy enough for her grow into it. I increased the width of the skirt pattern piece and gathered it before it was attached. Avery really appreciates a dress that she can twirl in. What 5 year old girl doesn’t?

If you’ve seen this dress before, its because Rachel from Stitched Together made an almost identical one before I got to it. Ha! I didn’t mean to be a copy-cat (even though I’d copy what Rachel makes all day long if I could)! When I bought this knit months and months ago from Girl Charlee, the skater dress was on my agenda. But, alas, my sewing productivity is very low these days!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen this pattern circulate all over blogland many moons ago. I have admired the simple, practical style of this pattern- it just seems like the perfect dress for a busy young girl. It’s comfy, it’s a little swingy, and cute to boot!

I’m so happy I finally made one.

So, this pattern is sized in 2 year increments… 3Y/4Y. 5Y/6Y. 7/Y/8Y, etc… My kid is 6 and almost a half and pretty average, so I drew my pattern lines right between the 5Y/6Y and 7Y/8Y. I think it’s just perfect- she will be able to wear it next year too.

The peacock feather fabric is from Girl Charlee, though it looks like it’s out of stock. Sorry peacock feather lovers (Caroline)!

The crazy-blinding-coma-inducing-neon pink binding is from a mistake purchase never-worn tank of mine (yikes. what was I thinking?!?!), and I think it completely overshadows compliments the feathers fabric. Am I right?

I sewed this entire dress on my regular machine, a pretty basic Kenmore from Sears that I’ve had for 4 years and not ONCE had an issue with (LOVE you, Kenny!! mwah!). I used a jersey needle using my stretch stitch, and I’m really happy with the result. I haven’t had the best luck with my serger for knits because the seams just don’t feel as sturdy. I haven’t found my serger groove yet I guess.

Oh, and using a little spray starch helped immensely when it came time to sewing the hem. I spritzed a little on, ironed up 1″, and then sewed 2 rows of regular stitches.

I’m happy to report that this dress really is a quick sew. The pattern is clear and really easy to understand. I can’t wait to make more.

Ellery loves anything knit, so she immediately put it on and goofed around in her room.

I went up a size this time around, and sewed a 3T. She wore her polka-dot one the other day and I almost had to call the Fire Department to come with the Jaws of Life to remove it from her. Oh. My. Gersh.

Just trust me here… if in doubt, go up a size.

This top is fitted, so it does require the kid to put her arms straight up so you can tug it off, which might just be harder for a 2 year old to suffer through for more than 3 seconds without having a full-on panic attack. a-hem.

Instead of cutting the slit in the back 4 inches, I’d consider cutting up to 5 inches next time around- and my Corinne has a skinny head. Or, I might cut the neckline out a bit larger. Dana does have you cut a 5″ slit for the larger sizes, but I think it might be something to consider for the smaller sizes too.

(Note: I really do love this pattern- just giving you the heads up! Gotta be real.)

Aaaannnd a little vintage button on the back to finish her off.

Next Tuesday, Coco starts preschool two days a week.

She is SO excited to play with the baby dolls and baby strollers- her favorite things in the world right now.

And I will not lie- I am looking forward to some free time. Strolling (quietly) through the grocery store, getting my ridiculously overgrown hair cut, sewing to the sounds Pandora, and the occasional morning nap are all on my list of things to do.

School starts on the 20th. So soon, so soon!! Ellery will be a big first grader this year.

I wonder if she’ll be brave enough to buy lunch sometime. Last year, she asked if she could buy lunch one day and I said, “Of course! What would you want to buy?” Thinking she’d say, “pizza!” or “tacos!”

The fabric is an organic cotton designed by Carolyn Gavin for Windham. It’s Petite Fleur in Navy, and the contrasting Citron solid for the hem is from the same line. I kept checking out this print in my fabric closet, imagining it as a dress for the fall, layered with a cardigan and over tights… or, knee socks. KNEE socks people. Can we get a straight-up revival?

This is my 5th boho baby dress.

I’ve had a few custom etsy orders since my first, and I can say that I love this pattern now that I’ve decided how I like it.

This is how I like it: I cut my 6 year old a size 6 with the 7 length for the skirt… But, I still felt that this dress was a leeetle too short. So, when I was sewing the hem facing, I decided not to fold it all the way under, and just stitched in the ditch on the front. It probably added another 3/4″. I love this length on Ellery and I will probably make this dress in this way again! Oh, you know I did the “sausage step” again for the bodice- once you get the hang of it, it’s so much faster and so much cleaner!!

I am really a fan of not having to make buttonholes. This dress is sweet and simple, and just has an ease about it that I like a whole lot.